ABOUT THIS ALBUM

Album Notes

Swinging Guitar Sounds of Young America Vol 3 is a genre bending collection of music from Beatles pop, jazz, blues, bluegrass, psychedelia, western swing, and jazz, to power pop.***If you purchase this album you are entitled to the bonus cut "Lonely Wave". I will send it personally***.QUOTES REGARDING "SWINGING GUITAR SOUNDS OF YOUNG AMERICA VOLUMES 1 and 2" "A cool minty fresh zephyr wafted through my CD player when Vinnie Zummo's CD started to spin. It turned into a blue sky spring day and in my backyard it sounded like The Ventures meet Steinberger at a party that Chet was throwing for the Beatles. Fantastic record!The vocals are lush and amazing. Janice sounds sweet as hell! Guitars clear and comforting, the Beatles influence is refreshing. This album makes you feel as though you are part of a good time party while listening to it. It creates an uplifting nostalgic atmosphere. A very nice CD, congrats!"Steve Vai

"There's something sort of touching about how many songs are obvious tributes to specific people . . . and also how there is no obvious connection between them (Earth Wind and Fire and Les Paul?!) In the end it kind of makes me chuckle. It comes across very much as a musician doing something from the heart rather than thinking like an A&R man. And of course there's great playing."Joe Jackson

"I can appreciate all the stylistic detail in the playing and the production. I like how you are mixing the elements of all of those things to express where you came from as a player."Dweezil Zappa

"A cool minty fresh zephyr wafted through my CD player when Vinnie Zummo's CD started to spin. It turned into a blue sky spring day and in my backyard it sounded like The Ventures meet Steinberger at a party that Chet was throwing for the Beatles. A very nice CD, congrats!"Steve Vai

"There's something sort of touching about how many songs are obvious tributes to specific people . . . and also how there is no obvious connection between them (Earth Wind and Fire and Les Paul?!) In the end it kind of makes me chuckle. It comes across very much as a musician doing something from the heart rather than thinking like an A&R man. And of course there's great playing."Joe Jackson

One of my lasting memories from childhood was hunkering down in front of the B&W tv on Sunday nights to watch "The Ed Sullivan Show" (I'm dating myself here). It's where I (and millions of other baby boomers) first saw The Beatles. It's also where I got regular doses of top shelf impressionists like Frank Gorshin, John Byner and Rich Little. These guys could imitate every Hollywood celebrity of note from that era, and they did it with a combination of flawless technique, old school flair and a touch of reverence for their subjects. Their impressions were invariably more homage than mean-spirited mockery, as some impressionists today tend to resort to. Guitarist Vinnie Zummo invests that same kind of heart into paying homage to some of his own personal guitar heroes on Swinging Guitar Sounds Of Young America. Whether he's channeling Abbey Road-era Beatles ("Fab Gear"), laying down funky-slick rhythm guitar tracks and infectious bass grooves ("EWF") or summoning up the spirit of Bob Willis and & Texas Playboys ("CP Heart"), Zummo's playing is authentic and imbued with a touch of reverence and deep soul. Like impressionists Gorshin, Byner and Little, he shifts seamlessly from guitar hero to guitar hero with stunningly accurate results. There's a touch of Jeff Beck on the ballad "Sanpaku Eyes" (reminiscent of Beck's "Because We Ended As Lovers"), a nod to Eric "Slowhand" Clapton on the raucous power trio number "Take The Cream," and a spot-on imitation of B.B. King on "So Relaxed I'm Nearly Dead Blues," which is imbued with all of B.B.'s signature blues licks. The jaunty novelty swinger "Waffles" has a distinct Les Paul-Mary Ford vibe (with Vinnie's wife Janice handling the vocals) while the blazing "Retro Fuso," with brothers Barry Miles on Mini Moog and Terry Silverlight on drums, is a Joe Satriani-meets-Al Di Meola chops showcase. Elsewhere, Zummo pays homage to Brian Wilson with his lush vocal harmonies on "Wilson Beach" and he tips his hat to jazz guitar great Pat Martino and jazz drumming legend Elvin Jones on the closing duet number "Kool Bop." Throw in a seductive bossa nova in "Quantes Vezes," some Indian flavoring with "Aloo Bobbily," an authentic bluegrass romp in "Doing The Best That I Can," a vintage early '80s power pop New Wave number in "You're The One" and a funky N'awlins flavored zydeco romp with "SPJ" (featuring Zummo's former employer Joe Jackson on clavinet) and you have a veritable kaleidoscope of guitar sounds coming from this remarkably talented six-string impressionist. Highly recommended to guitar fans. -- Bill MilkowskBill Milkowski is a regular contributor to Jazz Times, Jazziz, Modern Drummer and Bass Player magazines.

"In a word, Zummo-rific..." Marshall Crenshaw, pop artist.

"Vinnie is one of those quiet, eccentric genii lurking in a corner of the music business sadly but inevitably overlooked. An accomplished, no, a phenominal musician, a savvy producer and arranger, and someone with a better voice than he gives himself credit for, not to mention a fine head of hair. Vinnie always does good work, and this album delivers. It's really an impressive showcase for all his varied talents, a long time in the making. I really don't know anyone else who could pull off what he's done here: brought Clapton, Beck, Brian Wilson, the Beatles , EW&F, et al., together in a joyous musical celebration without them knowing about it (yet!). I'm proud to be representin' here, on vocals and on bass not to mention voiceover! Oh, and the sessions were fun, too. Thanks Vinnie! GM"

Graham Maby, legendary bassist with the Joe Jackson Band

"An affectionate and insightful guided tour through the recent history of rock and pop. The tunes are original, yet Zummo totally nails several well-known styles, including the Beatles and Cream." Jim Aikin, famed music magazine reviewer.

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